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October Is Spooky for Some Closers

Updated Oct. 6, 2010 12:01 a.m. ET

Any closer will insist that getting the final three outs is different from getting any other in a game. Turns out getting the final three outs of a playoff game is also a lot different from getting the final three outs in July.

Since 1975, relievers have converted 68.1% of regular-season save opportunities but just 61.6% of postseason chances. The drop is interesting because not much about the "save" changes in the playoffs. Closers are generally called on with a similar frequency and are asked to get roughly...